Former Giants receiver Victor Cruz wore a No. 10 jersey Sunday in support of Eli Manning at the team's game against Dallas.

Like many former Manning teammates, Cruz took news of Manning's benching hard and took to Instagram to support the quarterback whose streak of 210 consecutive regular-season starts ended last week. Fox Sports had reported that former Giants players planned to attend the Cowboys game while wearing Manning jerseys on the sideline. Since then, the team fired coach Ben McAdoo and general manager Jerry Reese, and Manning returned as the starter.

"It was definitely my decision," Cruz told ThePostGame of donning No. 10 for gameday. "I obviously heard a bunch of guys were wearing their jerseys to show support for Eli today. Obviously Eli is my guy so I gotta join in those efforts."

Cruz had a particularly close relationship with Manning as he developed from an undrafted player to a Pro Bowl receiver with the Giants. He caught a touchdown pass from Manning in Super Bowl XLVI when the Giants beat the Patriots. Cruz was cut in training camp by the Chicago Bears this year and hasn't signed with another team, which means his entire NFL career consisted of Manning being the starting quarterback.

After learning of the benching, Cruz said he passed along some encouraging words in a text exchange with Manning.

"Keep your head up," Cruz said. "I know what you bring to the table. I know what type of leader you are. And I know what type of person you are. You've always got a teammate and a friend in me."

Cruz spoke to ThePostGame outside the stadium, where he posed for pictures with fans on behalf of Northwest.


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